Chapter 8: Let's Leave Early Together
"Nice to meet you, ma'am."
Wearing the world's most innocent, cheerful kid face, I tossed out a light greeting. No response came back. Ayoung's lips were pale and tightly pressed together as she mechanically picked up the barcode scanner. Beep. Her fingertips trembled violently around the condom box, but the series of motions—scanning under the red light and shoving it aside—was chillingly precise. It was the kind of hand movement driven by pure survival instinct, determined not to fully acknowledge what had just passed through her hands.
I casually slipped my payment card into the terminal. Beep. Even as the cheerful approval sound rang out, Ayoung never opened her mouth or glanced my way. Her vacant gaze was rigidly fixed on some empty spot beyond the counter, and the only evidence of the horrific scream she was swallowing inside was the faint twitch at the corner of her mouth.
"What time do you get off today?"
I whispered it in a perfectly casual tone, like asking a neighborhood mart regular about closing hours, as I took the plastic bag from her. Silence again. Ayoung's eyes flickered for a split second in the air, but her pale lips stayed sewn shut.
I shoved the empty cart roughly beside the counter and grabbed just the bag. As I naturally twisted away to step out of her narrow field of vision—exactly one step away from turning fully—
"I'll be waiting at your place."
I let the words drop low to the floor with my back turned. Calculated volume: inaudible to the staff at the next counter amid the mart's noise, but just right for Ayoung. From behind, a hard object—probably the scanner—clattered to the floor, but I didn't bother looking back as I leisurely walked away from the counter.
After six or seven steps toward the exit—tap, tap-tap. Urgent, nervous footsteps chased right after me. The slapping friction of mart slippers on smooth tile. I stopped and slowly turned my head.
Ayoung stood there, panting, her face ashen like she might collapse any second. She'd clearly abandoned her register and rushed out. The moment she stopped in front of me, her bloodshot eyes frantically scanned left and right. Luckily, no other customers lurked near these shelves. The instant she confirmed it was safe, her slender hand shot out and roughly seized my wrist. Ice-cold fingers wrapped around as her fragile arm yanked my forearm with surprising strength.
She dragged me forcibly toward the narrow hallway in the store corner, between the storeroom and bathroom. A perfect blind spot, no CCTV. Before my back could even touch the cold hallway wall, she flung my wrist away like she'd touched a bug and faced me head-on.
"H-Home? What the hell do you mean by that?"
Her breath was still ragged from running, making her ample breasts heave endlessly over her uniform vest. Her voice was laced with extreme terror.
"What's wrong? Got a problem?"
I leaned one shoulder crookedly against the cement wall and asked lightly.
"N-No, how do you know our home...?"
"Woochan gave me the passcode."
I said it as naturally as breathing, without a shred of shame. In that instant, the last trace of color drained from Ayoung's cheeks like the tide pulling out. Of course Woochan hadn't given me their home passcode. Just bait to savor her reaction—and damn, she bit hard.
"What? You don't like doing it next to your son's room anymore?"
Instead of answering, Ayoung's terrified eyes darted wildly left and right, fearing someone might hear. Fortunately—or unfortunately—no signs of life. I slowly closed the gap by one step, looking down at her. Close enough that her round forehead nearly brushed my chin. The mart name tag on her chest fluttered with her pounding heart.
Ayoung froze, too scared to push me away, holding her breath. I smirked, silently binding those despairing eyes. Her head drooped like a criminal's. Beneath the shabby mart vest, her slender shoulders trembled like aspen leaves. After staring at the toes of her worn slippers for seconds, a sigh-mixed voice leaked weakly from her lips.
"...I'll... I'll go out. Right now."
She never lifted her head to meet my eyes. Total surrender.
Mart back parking lot. I leaned back in the driver's seat, gazing leisurely out the window. Soon enough, Ayoung emerged from the employee entrance. She'd ditched the vest for a thin cardigan in her casual clothes. Head bowed deeply as she walked toward the lot, she kept anxiously glancing around.
I rolled the window halfway down and waved lightly. Our eyes met, and she hurried over almost at a run. She yanked open the passenger door, crammed herself in, slammed it shut with a bang, and huddled deep into the seat. Her face was flushed red up to her earlobes.
"Why are you hiding like that?"
"......"
Instead of answering, she bit her lower lip hard, her gaze buried in her hands on her lap. I didn't start the engine. With my wrists loosely draped over the wheel, I stared at the seat beside me. After a long silence, enduring it hunched over, Ayoung finally turned her head slightly and looked up at me.
"Uh... why aren't we going? What if someone sees?"
"So what if they do?"
Her eyes widened.
"No!"
Nearly a scream. Imagine the rumors: a young mom with a kid ditches work early and vanishes in a luxury foreign car with some guy. Her spotless reputation, built over years, crumbling in one blow—she was picturing it.
Ayoung desperately grabbed my arm. Real urgency in those trembling fingers.
"Where to?"
"Uh... anywhere."
"Then home."
Her grip tightened instantly. She snapped her head up and stared straight at me.
"Not home."
"Too lazy to go far. Let's just go home."
"N-No. You promised if I came out, we wouldn't go..."
I chuckled and hit the start button.
"Got it. I'll decide then."
Ayoung nodded silently. As the car pulled out of the lot, she finally fumbled for the seatbelt and buckled up. She awkwardly shifted her hips on the leather seat, then primly folded her hands on her lap again, shrinking back. I turned the wheel toward the city outskirts. For the next thirty minutes, she didn't say a word. As familiar rental apartments and mart signs faded from the window, replaced by strange high-rises and wide roads, her hands quietly clenched tighter on her lap.
Her shoulders visibly hunched as we descended the ramp to the hotel's underground parking. I handed the keys to the valet in his suit, who bowed politely. Ayoung shrank half a step behind me, clutching her cardigan sleeve, eyes glued to the floor.
Entering the lobby, her worn sneakers looked pathetic on the gleaming marble. Chandeliers from the ceiling lit the polished space brilliantly. One night here probably cost more than her monthly salary—she must feel utterly out of place. I strode familiarly to the elevators; Ayoung trailed me without daring to look around. Her steps shortened, as if trying to muffle her footsteps.
The full-length mirror in the elevator reflected us side by side. The car we'd arrived in, the hotel before us, our glaring difference in attire. Ayoung's gaze, meeting her reflection, plunged deeper than her toes into the floor.
I swiped the keycard and opened the suite door. As I stepped into the spacious room, Ayoung cautiously crossed the threshold but stopped after two steps. Her gait was awkward on the thick carpet that sank underfoot. She scanned the wide bed and panoramic view beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, then dropped her eyes again. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed dryly.
I left her and went into the bathroom, turning on the tub faucet. Amid the gushing water, I glanced back. Ayoung was still frozen near the door.
"What are you doing? Get undressed."
"...Shouldn't you wash first?"
"We can wash together."
Her eyes went wide. Mouth half-open, she alternated glances between me and the bathroom, unable to hide her panic. I savored her face leisurely, curling my lips. Watching her react to every word was endlessly entertaining.
Ayoung lingered by the door for a while. The pouring water filled the heavy silence between us. Finally, trembling hands fumbled up to her cardigan buttons. It took forever to undo the first one—fingers slipping, grasping again, missing. The cardigan finally slid off her shoulders; her hands moved to the hem of her thin t-shirt inside. She gripped it but hesitated, fingers fidgeting on the fabric. At last, she squeezed her eyes shut and yanked it off over her head in one go.
A white bra. Not the mismatched old underwear from before. As she undid her slacks, the same white panties peeked from her waistband, drawing an involuntary smile. She'd put some effort in, knowing a man would see.
I sat on the tub edge with arms crossed, watching. Aware of my gaze, Ayoung's ears turned beet red. She stepped out of the slacks pooled at her feet, reached back to unclasp her bra. Click. Straps slid down; one arm instinctively covered her chest. As she lowered her panties last, her head turned completely away. We'd seen each other naked twice already, yet she shrank like this. She'd lost her mind clinging to me all night below, but sober, she hesitated over something so simple.
Naked, Ayoung clutched her bundled clothes, glancing around anxiously. No clue where to put them in this vast bathroom. The marble vanity, gold towel racks—all seemed too grand for her things; her hands hovered in the air.
"Put them over there by the sink."
I nodded toward one side. She gave a short nod and began folding each piece neatly—t-shirt, slacks, underwear—with meticulous care, aligning every edge. Only after placing the cardigan on top did she cover her front with both arms and tiptoe toward the tub. Her bare feet groped cautiously on the tiles, slipping in one by one. As warm water swallowed her ankles, calves, thighs, her tense shoulders finally eased a fraction.
I unbuttoned my shirt from the top, stripped off pants and underwear casually. Ayoung's huddled gaze in the water flicked toward my crotch then whipped away. Ignoring it, I stepped in with a splash. Slosh. I settled facing her, back against the tub wall, arms draped on the edges. The wide tub felt intimate now—our outstretched legs nearly touching. Rising steam blurred the water below. Perhaps because of it, tension visibly drained from Ayoung's rigid body.
Unlike me, lounging with legs extended to my waist in water, she hugged her knees tight to her chest. Her arms squeezed her breasts' outline bulging between, refusing to let go. But her collarbones, shoulders, and the precarious line of her upper breasts above the water couldn't be hidden by mere steam.
I stirred the surface lazily with a finger, eyeing her. Wet hair clung to her nape, face flushed. Her eyes chased tiny ripples, stubbornly avoiding mine.
"Nice, right?"
Her shoulders jerked at the casual toss. She looked up, eyes wary.
"W-What...?"
"While everyone's at work, we're playing in a hotel."
Her mouth opened halfway then shut. Eyes dropped back to the water; she clammed up.
"Ma'am."
"...Yeah."
"Ever done something like this?"
Her head slowly lowered. Chin burying toward her chest, the silence was answer enough.
"Doesn't it make a mom like you happy, finally doing this with a young guy after always just raising your kid?"
"...Stop."
Her sunken voice sharpened.
"Stop what?"
"Don't talk like that."
Her head lifted. Angry eyes glared straight at me.
"This is all because you're blackmailing me."
Stiff and resolute. I enjoyed these rare flashes of her spirit. That fierce, venomous face crumbling in ecstasy beneath me—the greater the fall, the deeper the thrill surging through me.
"So you're saying you hate it now?"
I grinned back; she bit her lip hard. Yet her eyes stayed locked on mine. I sliced through the water, grabbing her wrist. She flinched in resistance, but I yanked her clean over.
"Ah—"
Slosh. Water spilled over the edge onto the tiles. Off-balance, her body pitched into me, chest pressing tight. Her guarding arms gave way in the tumble; full breasts flattened against my chest above water. Thighs collided underwater, warm currents sloshing between. She panicked, trying to push away, but she was already in my arms.
"Satisfy me today, and our deal's done."
"...What?"
Her struggling froze; she looked up, eyes wide. Bewilderment and doubt tangled through wet lashes. I brought my lips close to her ear and whispered.
"I'll keep watching out for Woochan. But only if you fully satisfy me today."
Her gaze shook violently. Eyes boring into mine, probing for truth.
"......"
"Can't do it?"
